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One of my greatest joys is waking up on the weekends, rolling out of bed and going for a jog on the beach. It is most certainly a wonderful way to begin the day in a relaxing manner. I know it may seem a little strange to describe going for a jog as relaxing but please hear me out.
To start the day surrounded by nature, with the early morning sun warming my shoulders and back; listening to the sound of waves as they kiss the shoreline again and again; breathing in fresh oxygen; feeling the grains of sand in between my toes; my body in a rhythm of one foot in front of the other, and nothing else to think about but the inhale and exhale of my breath, can be a deeply relaxing and meditative experience.
Relaxing, because it's a little moment of heaven in the day when the simple act of a light jog fills my body with nurturing happiness. Bodies love to move. They are designed to move. Sure the first 5 minutes may sometimes be a struggle, but once you're in the groove, the next half-hour is when all the peace and calm emerges if you are open to it.
To jog in a beautiful environment with no distractions and only the breath to focus on is a wonderful opportunity to get in to the "zone" and semi-meditative state. Despite the thriving activity that surrounds - other joggers, swimmers, surfers, barking dogs - once I get in to that "zone" everything else disappears and it's just me and my breath, a meditative moment of solitary quiet time.
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5 Comments
There's no BS with jogging - no way to slack off - unlike bike riding or swimming - which I both love too - but for sheer no nonsense exercise - a continuous jog is awesome
ReplyI used to run when I was in my 40's, (0ver 20 years ago) and always found it a good meditative experience. I enjoyed yoga too, but could never seem to effectively meditate.
ReplyOh Lep. You really are an idiot. Never heard of a life? Go get one. You're boring me to tears.
ReplyI prefer a early morning run any day over swimming, it gets you out there, moving, and you see more than you do in a pool. I find it's exhilarating to run into the sunrise and welcome a new day into life. I've tried swimming, but living away from the ocean, running costs only my time.
ReplySwimming is a lot more meditative, as you have more sensory deprivation, hearing only water noises, and seeing only the black line on the bottom. Also it is a far more biomechanically complex activity, requiring a lot more timing & coordination.
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